Julia DeLuney, 53, stands accused of murdering her 79-year-old mother, Helen Gregory, after allegedly misappropriating over NZD $50,000 in hidden cash to invest in cryptocurrency. Prosecutors claim DeLuney staged her mother’s fatal fall in January 2024, fabricating fees and promising fake profits while her portfolio sank tens of thousands in the red.
Key Takeaways
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Julia DeLuney is charged with murdering her mother after stealing cash hidden around her home to fund crypto investments.
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Evidence suggests fabricated withdrawal fees, shifting timelines for returns and significant portfolio losses.
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Forensic findings and inconsistencies in DeLuney’s account prompted police to treat the death as suspicious rather than accidental.
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The case highlights risks of unregulated cryptocurrency and the vulnerability of seniors who distrust traditional banking.
Background
Helen Gregory, a retired churchgoer who distrusted banks, kept large sums of cash hidden in plastic packets throughout her Khandallah home. In September 2023, she was hospitalized after a fall, leaving her daughter and son-in-law to stay in the house. Upon her return, Gregory found the home in disarray and noticed that substantial amounts of cash were missing.
Alleged Crypto Theft
Court testimony and financial analyses reveal:
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Between January 2023 and January 2024, DeLuney transferred approximately NZD $93,000 to crypto platforms.
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She received just NZD $55,000 from family and friends during the same period.
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By early 2024, her crypto portfolio was almost NZD $41,000 in the red.
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Two days before Gregory’s death, DeLuney emailed her mother claiming gains of over NZD $160,000 and seeking NZD $18,000 for “withdrawal fees.” Experts testified these fees were fictitious.
Friends estimated the total stolen amounted to NZD $75,000–$85,000. Gregory reported an earlier theft of NZD $13,000 from a salad bowl on New Year’s Day 2024 and began receiving disturbing silent phone calls.
Suspicious Death And Investigation
On January 24, 2024, Gregory was found dead in her attic home. DeLuney claimed her mother fell accidentally, but forensic experts identified blood spatter and hair clumps inconsistent with an attic fall. Investigators noted multiple clothing changes by DeLuney that night and gaps in her movements: she allegedly left the scene and returned later with her husband.
Court Proceedings
The Wellington High Court jury has heard two weeks of evidence, with at least two more to go. Key testimony:
• Detective Sergeant Giulia Boffa on narrative inconsistencies and unexplained trips.
• Financial analyst Eric Huang on DeLuney’s spending far outpacing her income.
• Friends Cheryl Thomson and Elizabeth Askin on Gregory’s trust and her daughter’s promises of safety.
The defense argues someone else may be responsible, while the Crown maintains DeLuney staged the scene to conceal deliberate violence.
Timeline Of Events
Date
Event
Jun 2023
DeLuney deposits ~NZD $93,000 into crypto platforms
Sep 2023
Gregory hospitalized; DeLuney stays at her home
Jan 1, 2024
Gregory reports NZD $13,000 missing; silent phone calls
Jan 23, 2024
Gregory withdraws NZD $9,000 from retirement savings
Jan 24, 2024
Gregory found dead in Khandallah attic
Jun 2025
Murder trial enters third week
This case underscores the perils of unregulated crypto, familial betrayal and the need for vigilance when investing, especially for vulnerable populations.
Sources
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Crypto Losses Spark Murder Allegations in New Zealand Family Tragedy, AInvest.
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NZ Woman Allegedly Kills Mother After Crypto-Related Theft, Cointelegraph.
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Khandallah murder trial: Daughter allegedly took large sum of money to invest in cryptocurrency, NZ Herald.
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Khandallah murder trial: Daughter allegedly took money to invest in cryptocurrency, RNZ.
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